Most people don't think twice about their water, until something feels off. The tap tastes different this month. Chlorine catches the back of your throat. Or you're responsible for a workplace and you need water you can stand behind, with the paperwork to prove it.
- Summer Springs is genuine spring water drawn from natural underground springs in regional NSW (Central Coast, Riverina & Dorrigo Plateau) not filtered town water.
- No added chlorine and no added fluoride at any point in our process.
- Independently tested by the National Measurement Institute (NMI) — the Australian Government's national measurement authority — to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard.
- PFAS: not detected across a screen of more than 30 compounds. Heavy metals sit at or below detection and well within Australian Drinking Water Guidelines values.
- Naturally soft, low-mineral water — low in sodium, easy on kettles, coffee machines and urns.
- 600mL, 1.5L and 12L one-way bottles come from our Riverina source; 15L returnable bottles are filled from the spring nearest your depot.
1. What genuine spring water is
Spring water is water drawn from a natural underground source — not municipal (town) water that has been filtered and repackaged.
Under Australia's food standards, "spring water" must come from a subterranean (underground) source and be bottled essentially as it is found, apart from the minimal treatment needed to make it safe. That's different from products often labelled "purified", "pure" or "drinking water", which are frequently treated town-water supplies. It's also different from soda or "sparkling" water, which has added carbonation.
Because our water comes from genuine springs, its character — the balance of minerals, the softness, the taste — reflects the region it comes from. That also means each of our springs is a little different, which is exactly what you'd expect from a natural product rather than a uniform processed one.
2. Where our water comes from
Which source fills your bottle depends on the bottle format and, for our returnable bottles, on your depot.
We are conscious of the impact bottled water can have when it is transported further than it needs to be. That is why Summer Springs uses natural spring water from three regional NSW spring sites and matches supply areas to the most practical local source.
This helps us reduce unnecessary freight, lower fuel use and minimise transport-related emissions, while still sourcing high-quality natural spring water. It also helps us manage delivery costs more responsibly, so we can maintain fair and practical pricing for regional NSW customers.
Which source is in your bottle?
| Bottle format | Spring source |
|---|---|
| 600mL, 1.5L and 12L one-way bottles | Riverina, NSW — for all depots |
| 15L returnable bottles | By depot (see below) |
15L returnable bottles — sourced by depot
Our returnable 15L bottles are filled from the spring closest to the depot that serves you.
| Depot | Region served | Spring source |
|---|---|---|
| Dubbo | Central West & Far West NSW | Riverina, NSW |
| Tamworth | Gunnedah, Quirindi, Tamworth & surrounds | Central Coast, NSW |
| Armidale | Uralla to Tenterfield; Armidale to Glen Innes | Northern NSW |
Not sure which depot covers you? Check the delivery areas page.
3. Typical mineral analysis
All three of our sources are naturally soft, low-mineral waters — low in sodium, with a clean, light taste.
| Parameter | Riverina | Central Coast | Northern NSW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium (Na) | 14 | 21 | 7 |
| Calcium (Ca) | 2 | 0.02 | 8.79 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 3 | 0.047 | — |
| Potassium (K) | 1 | — | 1.89 |
| Chloride (Cl) | 14 | 29 | — |
| Sulphate (SO₄) | 5.6 | 6.9 | — |
| Bicarbonate (HCO₃) | 17 | — | — |
| Silica (as SiO₂) | — | 6.2 | — |
| pH | 7.3 | 5.5 | 6.5 |
| Total dissolved solids (TDS) | 70 ppm | 89 ppm | — |
- Riverina — all 600mL, 1.5L and 12L one-way bottles, plus 15 L returnables from the Dubbo depot.
- Central Coast — 15 L returnables from the Tamworth depot.
- Northern NSW — 15 L returnables from the Armidale depot.
What the numbers mean
- TDS (total dissolved solids) is the total amount of minerals dissolved in the water. At around 70–90 ppm ours is a light, low-mineral water — you can taste the difference against harder, mineral-heavy waters.
- pH measures how acidic or alkaline the water is. Natural spring waters range either side of neutral (7.0) depending on their minerals; ours span roughly 5.5 to 7.3.
- Sodium is low across all sources (7–21 mg/L), which suits those keeping an eye on salt intake.
- Hardness (calcium & magnesium) is low, so the water is naturally soft — it leaves less scale in kettles, coffee machines and irons.
4. Independent testing & PFAS results
Our sources are tested by the National Measurement Institute (NMI) — the Australian Government's national measurement authority — at laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025.
ISO/IEC 17025 is the international standard for the technical competence of testing laboratories, so these aren't in-house numbers — they're independent. To protect the commercial confidentiality of our sourcing arrangements we don't publish individual report numbers or exact site locations, but reports can be provided on request.
Tested from source to bottle
Our testing isn't a single reading at the spring. In our most recent program, samples were analysed at three stages — at the source, on the filling line, and in finished bottles — and the results held consistent across all three.
What we screen for
Each round covers far more than the minerals in the table above. Depending on the source and sampling round, the water is screened for:
- Heavy metals (including arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium)
- PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) — 30+ compounds
- Herbicides and pesticides
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
- Inorganic and physical parameters (nitrate, fluoride, turbidity, colour, conductivity)
Across these screens, agricultural and industrial contaminants have returned non-detect, and naturally occurring elements sit well within Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) values.
Heavy metals
The table below shows a representative heavy-metal result (Riverina source) against the ADWG health guideline value. Every result is a small fraction of the guideline, or below the level the laboratory can detect.
| Element | Result (mg/L) | ADWG guideline (mg/L) |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 0.002 | 0.01 |
| Lead | <0.001 | 0.01 |
| Mercury | <0.0001 | 0.001 |
| Cadmium | <0.0001 | 0.002 |
| Chromium | <0.001 | 0.05 |
| Copper | <0.001 | 2 |
| Manganese | 0.0018 | 0.5 |
| Nickel | <0.001 | 0.02 |
What is PFAS — and why test for it?
PFAS are a large group of manufactured chemicals that resist breaking down in the environment, which is why they're closely tracked in drinking water. We screen for them so there's no guesswork.
PFAS results
The laboratory screened for a suite of more than 30 individual PFAS compounds. Every result came back below the laboratory's reporting limit — that is, none were detected.
| Compound | Result (µg/L) | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA | <0.0005 | Not detected |
| PFOS | <0.0002 | Not detected |
| PFHxS | <0.0002 | Not detected |
| All other PFAS in the suite (PFBA, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFNA, PFDA and 24+ more) |
< reporting limit | Not detected |
Summer Springs is bottled under a HACCP-certified food-safety and traceability system.
5. How it's treated & what we don't add
We use physical filtration and non-chlorine disinfection — never chemical dosing that alters taste.
Spring water is clean at the source, but responsible bottling still calls for filtration and disinfection to guarantee it reaches you exactly as intended.
Treatment steps
- Sediment filtration — removes suspended particles.
- Microfiltration — a finer stage that captures microscopic matter.
- UV disinfection — ultraviolet light neutralises microorganisms without adding anything to the water.
- Source-specific disinfection — an electrolytic silver-ion process (Riverina) or ozone (Central Coast / Northern NSW). Neither relies on chlorine, and neither changes the natural taste.
What we don't add
We add nothing to our spring water. Specifically, there is no chlorine, no fluoride, no sugar or sweeteners, no flavours or colours, and no preservatives.
6. Bottling, hygiene & sustainability
- Bottles are cleaned through a full hot-wash, detergent, sanitiser and rinse cycle before every fill.
- Filling runs on automated Steelhead lines, keeping human contact to a minimum.
- Our 15 L returnable bottles are reused across many cycles in a closed-loop system, which cuts down on single-use plastic.
- Sourcing water close to each depot keeps delivery distances — and transport emissions — down.
7. Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between spring water and "purified" or "pure" water?
Spring water comes from a natural underground source and is bottled essentially as found. Products labelled "purified", "pure" or "drinking water" are often treated municipal (town) water. Summer Springs is genuine spring water.
Which spring source is in my bottle?
All 600mL, 1.5L and 12L one-way bottles come from our Riverina source. Our 15L returnable bottles are sourced by depot: Dubbo from Riverina, Tamworth from the Central Coast, and Armidale from Northern NSW.
Is Summer Springs water chlorinated?
No. We disinfect using non-chlorine methods — UV light, silver-ion and ozone — depending on the source. Chlorine is never added.
Is fluoride added?
No. Our water is not fluoridated.
Is the water tested for PFAS?
Yes. Our sources have been independently screened for a suite of more than 30 PFAS compounds, and every result was below the laboratory's reporting limit — none detected.
Who does the testing?
The National Measurement Institute (NMI) — the Australian Government's national measurement authority — at laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025. Reports are available on request.
Is Summer Springs water low in sodium?
Yes. Sodium is low across all sources, ranging from about 7 to 21 mg/L depending on the spring.
Is it good for coffee machines, kettles and urns?
Our water is naturally soft and low in dissolved minerals (TDS around 70–90 ppm), so it leaves less scale build-up in equipment than hard water.
How often is the water tested?
Summer Springs source water and bottled water is tested regularly both at bottling and tested independently on an ongoing basis, with the most recent NMI testing carried out in April 2026.
Can I see the test reports?
Summary data is published here and on our product pages. Full laboratory reports are available on request — get in touch and we'll send them through.
Water quality information reviewed 2026, and updated 02.07.26
